The Mexi-Kutioner Ks 14 to lead FIU's 3-1 win over Bethune-Cookman

FIU Athletics




FIU right-hander Robert Garcia struck out a career-high and season-high 14 batters against Bethune-Cookman to lead the Panthers to a 3-1 victory over the Wildcats Tuesday night at the FIU ballpark.FIU improved to 19-14 while B-CU dropped to 21-15.Garcia, whose nickname is "The Mexicutioner" because of his high strikeout totals, had at least one strikeout in every inning but the sixth. The senior from Mexico City struck out the side in the first and fourth innings and had a one-hitter going into the eighth inning. After allowing a leadoff single to Adonis Lao in the second inning, Garcia retired 18 of the next 19 batters before a one-out double by Michael Deeb in the eighth.Garcia (3-4) allowed four hits and one run to record his third win of the season.Garcia's 14 strikeouts were four shy of the FIU single-game record shared by Evan Thomas (vs. Florida A&M, 2/9/96) and Raul Garcia (vs. Stetson, 3/28/98). Garcia now has a team-leading 59 strikeouts on the season – which is second in Conference USA behind WKU's Ryan Thurston's 63 strikeouts.The 14 strikeouts were the most by an FIU pitcher since Tyler Alexander struck out 13 UALR batters on May 23, 2013.FIU broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, Zack Soria singled off Donte Lindsay (1-6) and Kenny Meimerstorf doubled off the left center field wall scoring Soria.Soria made it 2-0 in the sixth with a solo home run to left. It was Soria's fifth homer, which is second on the team to JC Escarra's six round-trippers.FIU added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by Irving Lopez, who along with Soria and Meimerstorf was 2 for 4.FIU next hosts UTSA in a three-game series starting Thursday night at 7 p.m. from the FIU ballpark. The game can be seen on PantherVision and C-USA TV.
 
 
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